Scoop with Level

ABSTRACT

A scoop and level for scooping a portion of granulated material and leveling the contents of the scoop. The scoop may have a volume suitable for brewing a single serving of brewed beverage, and in particular, for brewing a single serving of espresso. The lever is attached to the scoop and slides over the scoop to displace excess material, thus providing a desired amount material for processing, for example, for preparing a beverage. A scoop handle may further include a tamper opposite to the scoop. The tamper may be used to tamp brewing material after scooping, leveling, and pouring the brewing material into a holder.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of co-pending U.S. Pat. Application No. 15/390,332, which was filed on Dec. 23, 2016, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. Application No. 15/286,845 which was filed on Oct. 6, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,021,284, which issued on Jun. 1, 2021; which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. Application No. 15/256,929, which was filed on Sep. 6, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,912,407, which issued on Feb. 9, 2021; and which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. Application No. 15/187,444, which was filed on Jun. 20, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,586,709, which issued on Mar. 7, 2017; the entire disclosures of which applications are incorporated in their entirety herein by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to brewed beverages and in particular to espresso cartridges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Espresso beverages are made by forcing high pressure water through tightly packed, finely ground coffee. The ground coffee is contained in a holder commonly called a “portafilter” or into an espresso cartridge. High-pressure water is forced through the ground coffee and beverage is extracted in small, concentrated amounts. Many espresso drinkers prefer the simplicity of using the espresso cartridges, but are limited in the selection of ground coffee to varieties available in the pre-packaged espresso cartridges, and the cost of a single cartridge.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above and other needs by a scoop and level for scooping a portion of granulated material and leveling the contents of the scoop. The scoop may have a volume suitable for brewing a single serving of brewed beverage, and in particular, for brewing a single serving of espresso. The lever is attached to the scoop and slides over the scoop to displace excess material, thus providing a desired amount material for processing, for example, for preparing a beverage. A scoop handle may further include a tamper opposite to the scoop. The tamper may be used to tamp brewing material after scooping, leveling, and pouring the brewing material into a holder.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a scoop and level for filling a bottom fillable espresso cartridge. The espresso cartridge includes a cartridge base having frustoconical shaped walls, an open bottom, and a sealed top or an open top and sealing material, and a bottom plug attachable to the bottom of the cartridge base. The base is shaped like known espresso cartridges having a frustoconical shape with the top diameter larger than the bottom diameter After filling through the bottom, the plug is pressed into the bottom of the cartridge base to complete the espresso cartridge. The plug may include preformed ports for releasing brewed espresso, or weakened areas may be provided in the plug which seal the espresso cartridge after construction and rupture during use.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a scoop and level element of a counter top tool and method for constructing an espresso cartridge. The tool includes a tool base configured to reside on a generally horizontal surface, a cartridge seat having locking features on the tool base, a cartridge lock configured to engage the locking features to retain a cartridge base on the cartridge seat and including a mouth aligned with the open cartridge base bottom of the cartridge base, the scoop and level configured to scoop and measure a single serving of brewing material, a funnel insertable into the mouth of the mouth of the cartridge lock to facilitate pouring the single serving of brewing material into the mouth and cartridge base, a tamper for tamping the single serving of brewing material in the cartridge base, and a seating tool for seating the bottom plug in the open cartridge base bottom of the cartridge base. The method includes the steps of placing a frustoconical shaped brewing cartridge base onto a cartridge seat of a tool base, a closed cartridge base top against the cartridge seat, the cartridge base top having a larger diameter than an open cartridge base bottom opposite the cartridge base top, attaching a cartridge lock to the tool base to retain the cartridge base against the tool base, scooping a portion of brewing material, leveling the brewing material in the scoop and level, pouring the brewing material through a mouth of the cartridge lock and the open bottom end of the cartridge base, into the cartridge base, tamping the untamped brewing material into the cartridge base, placing a bottom plug into the cartridge holder against the small end of the cartridge, seating the bottom plug into the cartridge base, and removing the finished cartridge from the tool.

In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a scoop/level/tamper/seating tool for use with the counter top tool and with the method for constructing an espresso cartridge. The scoop/level/tamper/seating tool provides a scoop to collect a serving of brewing material, a sliding level to obtain an accurate amount of the brewing material before pouring the brewing material into the espresso cartridge, a tamper to tamp the brewing material in the espresso cartridge, and a guide hole pin to center a bottom plug during seating by the scoop/level/tamper/seating tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a bottom isometric view of a cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows a top isometric view of the cartridge according to the present invention with the cartridge base top open.

FIG. 2B shows a top isometric view of the cartridge according to the present invention with the cartridge base top closed.

FIG. 3A shows a side view of the cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 3B shows a top view of the cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 3C shows a bottom view of the cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge according to the present invention taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 5 shows a top isometric view of a cartridge base according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom isometric view of the cartridge base according to the present invention.

FIG. 7A shows a side view of the cartridge base according to the present invention.

FIG. 7B shows a top view of the cartridge base according to the present invention.

FIG. 7C shows a bottom view of the cartridge base according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge base according to the present invention taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 9A shows a side view of a bottom plug according to the present invention.

FIG. 9B shows a top view of the bottom plug according to the present invention.

FIG. 9C shows a bottom view of the bottom plug according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the bottom plug according to the present invention taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 11 shows a detailed top isometric view of the bottom plug according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the bottom plug according to the present invention taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 13 shows a detailed bottom isometric view of the bottom plug according to the present invention.

FIG. 14A shows a first isometric view of a hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 14B shows a second isometric view of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 14C shows a third isometric view of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 14D shows a fourth isometric view of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows an isometric view of a frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 16A shows a side view of the frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 16B shows a top view of the frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 16C shows a bottom view of the frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 16D shows a rear view of the frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 16E shows a front view of the frame of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 17A shows a first isometric view of a tamper/seater of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 17B shows a second isometric view of a tamper/seater of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 18A shows a side view of a tamper/seater of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 18B shows a rear view of a tamper/seater of the hand held tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 19A shows a first isometric view of a counter top tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 19B shows a second isometric view of the counter top tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 20A shows a tool base of the counter top tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 20B shows a second view of the tool base of the counter top tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 20C shows a tool base of the counter top tool according to the present invention with a cartridge lock according to the present invention attached to the toolbase.

FIG. 21A shows a side view of a funnel according to the present invention.

FIG. 21B shows an isometric view of the funnel according to the present invention.

FIG. 21C shows a top view of the funnel according to the present invention.

FIG. 21D shows a bottom view of the funnel according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows an isometric view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention.

FIG. 23A shows a side view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention.

FIG. 23B shows a side view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention rotated 90 degrees.

FIG. 23C shows a top view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention.

FIG. 23D shows a bottom view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge lock according to the present invention taken along line 24-24 of FIG. 23C.

FIG. 25A shows a scoop and leveling tool according to the present invention with a leveling fork according to the present invention retracted.

FIG. 25B shows the scoop and leveling tool according to the present invention with the leveling fork according to the present invention extended.

FIG. 26A shows an isometric view of the leveling fork according to the present invention.

FIG. 26B shows a cross-sectional view of a scoop arm of the scoop and level tool according to the present invention, taken along line 26B-26B of FIG. 25B

FIG. 27A shows a side view of the scoop and leveling tool according to the present invention with the leveling fork according to the present invention retracted.

FIG. 27B shows a top view of the scoop and leveling tool according to the present invention with the leveling fork according to the present invention retracted.

FIG. 28A shows a side view of the scoop and leveling tool according to the present invention with the leveling fork according to the present invention extended.

FIG. 28B shows a top view of the scoop and leveling tool according to the present invention with the leveling fork according to the present invention extended.

FIG. 29 shows an isometric view of a seating tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 30A shows a side view of the seating tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 30B shows a bottom view of the seating tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 31 shows a side view of a second hand held tool according to the present invention in an open state.

FIG. 32 shows a side view of the second hand held tool according to the present invention in a closing state.

FIG. 33 shows a method according to the present invention for using the hand held tool.

FIG. 34 shows a method according to the present invention for using the table top tool.

FIG. 35A shows a top/quarter isometric view of a second counter top tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 35B shows a bottom/quarter isometric view of the second counter top tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 36A shows a top/side isometric view of a scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 36B shows a bottom/side isometric view of the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 36C shows a top/rear isometric view of the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 37A shows a top/rear isometric view of the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool according to the present invention with a sliding level retracted.

FIG. 37B shows a top/rear isometric view of the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool according to the present invention with the sliding level partially extended.

FIG. 37C shows a top/rear isometric view of the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool according to the present invention with the sliding level fully extended.

FIG. 38 shows the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool according to the present invention releasing brewing material into the espresso cartridge retained in the tool base.

FIG. 39 shows the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool according to the present invention positioned to tamp the brewing material in the espresso cartridge retained in the tool base.

FIG. 40 shows the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool according to the present invention positioned to seat the bottom plug in the espresso cartridge retained in the tool base.

FIG. 41A shows a third scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool having a pivoting level according to the present invention.

FIG. 41B shows a third scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool having a pivoting level according to the present invention after pivoting to level the brewing material.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature’s appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement.

FIG. 1 shows a bottom isometric view of a cartridge 10 according to the present invention, FIG. 2A shows a top isometric view of the cartridge 10 with the cartridge base top 12 a (see FIG. 8 ) open, FIG. 2B shows a top isometric view of the cartridge 10 with the cartridge base top 12 a closed, FIG. 3A shows a side view of the cartridge 10, FIG. 3B shows a top view of the cartridge 10, FIG. 3C shows a bottom view of the cartridge 10, and FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 10 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3A, containing brewing material 11. The cartridge 10 may be provided with the cartridge base top 12 a open, or with foil material 16, or the like sealing the cartridge base top 12 a. When the cartridge is provided with the cartridge base top 12 a open, the foil material 16 may be attached to the cartridge base 12 before filling the cartridge base with brewing material. A bottom plug 14 is inserted into the cartridge base 12 after filling the cartridge base 12 through an open cartridge base bottom 12 b (see FIG. 8 ).

FIG. 5 shows a top isometric view of the cartridge base 12, FIG. 6 shows a bottom isometric view of the cartridge base 12, FIG. 7A shows a side view of the cartridge base 12, FIG. 7B shows a top view of the cartridge base 12, FIG. 7C shows a bottom view of the cartridge base 12, and FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge base 12 taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7A. The cartridge base 12 includes the base top 12 a, the open base bottom 12 b, and frustoconical shaped walls 12 c. The base bottom 12 b has a smaller diameter than the base top 12 a. An interior annular ridge 18 in the base bottom 12 b engages an exterior annular recess 22 (see FIG. 9A) in the bottom plug 14 to retain the bottom plug 14 in the base bottom 12 b.

FIG. 9A shows a side view of a bottom plug 14, FIG. 9B shows a top view of the bottom plug 14, FIG. 9C shows a bottom view of the bottom plug 14, and FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the bottom plug 14 taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9A. Further, FIG. 11 shows a detailed top isometric view of the bottom plug, FIG. 12 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the bottom plug taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9A, and FIG. 13 shows a detailed bottom isometric view of the bottom plug according to the present invention. The bottom plug 14 defines the exterior annular recess 22 created by a lip 23 above the exterior annular recess 22. The lip 23 includes gaps 24 allowing the lip 24 to slightly distort when the bottom plug 14 is pressed into the open base bottom 12 b. The bottom plug 14 further includes ports or weakened areas 20. When espresso is brewed, the brewed beverage escapes from the cartridge 10 through the ports or weakened areas 20. The weakened areas 20 help seal the cartridge 10 before use. The bottom plug 14 further may include a guide hole 26. The guide hole 26 engages a guide hole pin 52 (see FIG. 17A) to hold the bottom plug during assembly of the cartridge 10.

FIGS. 14A-14D show isometric views of a hand held tool 30. The tool 30 includes a frame 32, a handle 38 attached to the frame 32 for grasping by a user, a cartridge holder 40, a cartridge hole lid 36, and a tamper/seater 34. The cartridge base 12 is held in the cartridge holder 40 to fill, tamp, and plug the cartridge 12 to construct an espresso cartridge 10.

FIG. 15 shows an isometric view of the frame 32 of the hand held tool 30, FIG. 16A shows a side view of the frame 32 of the hand held tool 30, FIG. 16B shows a top view of frame 32 of the hand held tool 30, FIG. 16C shows a bottom view of frame 32 of the hand held tool 30, FIG. 16D shows a rear view of the frame of frame 32 of the hand held tool 30, and FIG. 16E shows a front view of the frame of frame 32 of the hand held tool 30. The frame 32 includes the cartridge holder 40, an arm 42 expending from the cartridge holder 40 to the handle 38, and pivot hands 44. The cartridge holder 40 has an open scoop mouth 46 and an open cartridge mouth 48, which may be closed by the lid 36 after placing the cartridge base 12 in the cartridge holder 40. The cartridge holder 40 may have a cylindrical or a frustoconical exterior, but preferably has a frustoconical interior matching the walls 12 c of the cartridge base 12.

FIG. 17A shows a first isometric view of the tamper/seater 34 of the hand held tool 30, FIG. 17B shows a second isometric view of the tamper/seater 34 of the hand held tool 30, FIG. 18A shows a side view of the tamper/seater 34 of the hand held tool 30, and FIG. 18B shows a rear view of the tamper/seater 34 of the hand held tool 30. The tamper/seater 34 provides two steps of making the espresso cartridge 10. A pivot 60 cooperates with the pivot hands 44 of the frame 32 allowing the tamper/seater 34 to pivot towards and away from the cartridge holder 40. A tamping plunger 50 is pushed into the cartridge holder 40 to tamp brewing material in the cartridge base 12. After tamping, the tamping plunger 50 is used to press the bottom plug 14 into the cartridge base 12. The tamping plunger 50 may include the guide hole pin 52 to attach the bottom plug 14 to the tamping plunger 50 to hold the bottom plug 14 aligned with the cartridge base bottom 12 b while pressing the bottom plug 14 into the cartridge base bottom 12 b. The tamper/seater 34 may include wings 58 facilitating one handed operation of the tool 30. A tamper arm 56 connects the pivot 60 to the tamper plunger 50.

FIG. 19A shows a first isometric view of a counter top tool 70 and FIG. 19B shows a second isometric view of the counter top tool 70. The counter top tool includes a tool base 72, a cartridge lock 80 which retains the cartridge base 12 on the tool base 72, a funnel 78 for filling the cartridge base 12, a scoop and leveling 7 4 for measuring and pouring brewing material, and a seating tool 76 for seating the bottom plug after filling the cartridge base 12 with the brewing material.

FIG. 20A shows the tool base 72 of the counter top tool 70, FIG. 20B shows a second view of the tool base 72 of the counter top tool 70, and FIG. 20C shows a tool base 72 of the counter top tool 70. The tool base 72 includes a cartridge seat 82 a slightly larger than the cartridge top 12 a to position the cartridge 12 on the tool base 72. Locking recesses 88 are formed around the cartridge seat 82 to attach a cartridge lock 80 (see FIGS. 22-24 ) to the tool base 72 to hold the cartridge base 12 on the tool base 71. A recess 84 is formed on the tool base 72 to position or store the seating tool 76 when not in use and a recess 86 is formed to position or store the scoop and leveling 74 when not in use.

FIG. 21A shows a side view of the funnel 76, FIG. 21B shows an isometric view of the funnel 76, FIG. 21C shows a top view of the funnel 76, and FIG. 21D shows a bottom view of the funnel 76. The funnel 76 fits into a cylindrical access mouth 94 (see FIG. 24 ) of the cartridge lock 80. The funnel 76 may include a step 90 to align the funnel with the open base bottom 12 b, or may be tapered to align the funnel with the open base bottom 12 b.

FIG. 22 shows an isometric view of the cartridge lock 80, FIG. 23A shows a side view of the cartridge lock 80, FIG. 23B shows a side view of the cartridge lock 80, FIG. 23C shows a top view of the cartridge lock 80, FIG. 23D shows a bottom view of the cartridge lock 80, and FIG. 24 shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge lock 80, taken along line 24-24 of FIG. 23C. The cartridge lock 80 includes locking ring segments 92 which engage the locking recesses 88 of the tool base 72 to retain the cartridge lock 80 and the cartridge base 12 on the tool base 72. The cartridge lock 80 includes a frustoconical shaped interior 95 positioning the cartridge base in the cartridge lock 80 for filling, tamping, and seating the bottom plug 14.

FIG. 25A shows the scoop and leveling tool 74 with a leveling fork 97 retracted, FIG. 25B shows the scoop and leveling tool 74 with the leveling fork 97 extended, FIG. 26A shows an isometric view of the leveling fork 97 and FIG. 26B shows a cross-sectional view of a scoop arm of the scoop and leveling tool 7 4 taken along line 26B-26B of FIG. 25B. The leveling fork 97 is restrained to slide in a slot 75 in the scoop and leveling tool 74. The leveling fork 97 includes a “T” shaped guide 97 a which engages the slot 75, a thumb piece 97 b for articulating the leveling fork 97, a fork 97 d sliding horizontally over the scoop 96, and a level arm 97 c connecting the thumb piece 97 b to the fork 97 d. The fork 97 d is generally flat and rests on a rim 96 a of the scoop 96 when not in use. After scooping a portion of brewing material 11 (see FIG. 4 ), the leveling fork 97 may be guided forward to push excess brewing material off the scoop and leveling tool 7 4 to obtain a consistent amount of brewing material 11.

The scoop and leveling tool 7 4 includes a cylindrical tamper 98 and a flat tamping end 51 opposite to the scoop 96. The cylindrical tamper 98 is slightly smaller in diameter than the cylindrical access mouth 94 of the cartridge lock 80 to allow the cylindrical tamper 98 to pass through the cylindrical mouth 94 during tamping.

FIG. 27A shows a side view of the scoop and leveling tool 74 with the leveling fork 97 retracted, FIG. 27B shows a top view of the scoop and leveling tool 74 with the leveling fork 97 retracted, FIG. 28A shows a side view of the scoop and leveling tool 74 with the leveling fork 97 extended, and FIG. 28B shows a top view of the scoop and leveling tool 7 4 with the leveling fork 97 extended longitudinally on the scoop arm 100.

FIG. 29 shows an isometric view of the seating tool 76, FIG. 30A shows a side view of the seating tool 76, and FIG. 30B shows a bottom view of the seating tool 76. The seating tool 76 includes a cylindrical portion 51 extending from a grasping portion 101. The grasping portion 101 facilitated applying a force required to seat the bottom plug 14 in the open cartridge bottom 12 b. A guide hole pin 52 to attach the bottom plug 14 to the seating tool 76 to hold the bottom plug 14 aligned with the cartridge base bottom 12 b while pressing the bottom plug 14 into the cartridge base bottom 12 b.

FIG. 31 shows a side view of a second hand held tool 102 in an open state and FIG. 32 shows a side view of the second hand held tool 102 in a closing state. The tool 102 includes a pivot 104 and handles 106 a and 106 b. The cartridge holder 40 is fixed to one handle 106 b, and the tamper plunger 50 is attached to the handle 106 a. The cartridge base 12 may be filled using the scoop and leveling 7 4 as described for the tool 70 above, and the handle 106 a may be pivoted to first tamp the brewing material using the tamper plunger 50, and then to seat the bottom plug 14 using the tamper plunger 50, as described for the tool 30 above. The tool 102 advantageously provides leverage during tamping and seating, easing the use of the tool.

FIG. 33 shows a method according to the present invention for using the hand held tool. The method includes inserting a frustoconical shaped cartridge base into a cartridge holder, an open cartridge base bottom first into the cartridge holder, the cartridge base bottom diameter smaller than a cartridge base top opposite to the cartridge base bottom at step 200, closing a lid to retain the cartridge base in the cartridge holder at step 202, scooping a portion of untamped brewing material through a holder mouth and the smaller cartridge base bottom of the cartridge at step 204, leveling the untamped brewing material in the holder mouth and cartridge base at step 206, pressing a tamping plunger through the holder mouth and into the cartridge holder at step 208, tamping the untamped brewing material completely into the cartridge base at step 210, withdrawing the tamper piston from the holder mouth at step 212, placing a bottom plug into the holder mouth and against the smaller cartridge base bottom of the cartridge base at step 214, seating the bottom plug in the smaller base bottom of the cartridge at step 216, and removing the finished cartridge from the cartridge holder at step 218.

FIG. 34 shows a method according to the present invention for using the table top tool. The method includes the steps of placing a frustoconical shaped brewing cartridge base onto a cartridge seat of a tool base, a closed cartridge base top against the cartridge seat, the cartridge base top having a larger diameter than an open cartridge base bottom opposite the cartridge base top at step 302, attaching a cartridge lock to the tool base to retain the cartridge base against the tool base at step 302, scooping a portion of brewing material at step 304, leveling the brewing material in the scoop at step 306, pouring the brewing material through a mouth of the cartridge lock and the open bottom end of the cartridge base, into the cartridge base at step 308, tamping the untamped brewing material into the cartridge base at step 310, placing a bottom plug into the cartridge holder against the small end of the cartridge at step 312, seating the bottom plug into the cartridge base at step 314, and removing the finished cartridge from the tool at step 316.

A top/quarter isometric view of a second counter top tool 70 a is shown in FIG. 35A and a bottom/quarter isometric view of the second counter top tool 70 a is shown in FIG. 35B. The second counter top tool 70 a includes a scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 74 a replacing the scoop and leveling 74, and does not include the dedicated seating tool 76.

A top/side isometric view of the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 74 a is shown in FIG. 36A, a bottom/side isometric view of the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 74 a is shown in FIG. 36 , and a top/rear isometric view of the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 74 a is shown in FIG. 36C. The scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 74 a is similar to the scoop and leveling 76, but includes a flat end 51 opposite to the scoop 96, and a guide hole pin 52 centered on the flat end 51.

A top/rear isometric view of the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 74 a with a sliding level 97 retracted is shown in FIG. 37A, a top/rear isometric view of the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 7 4 a with the sliding level 97 partially extended is shown in FIG. 37B, and a top/rear isometric view of the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 7 4 a with the sliding level 97 fully extended is shown in FIG. 37C. After scooping brewing material from a bulk brewing material container, the sliding level may be used to level the brewing material to obtain a preferred amount of brewing material for an espresso cartridge. While sliding level 97 is shown in FIGS. 37A-37C, a pivoting level may also be used, and any apparatus usable to slide over the scoop 96 to level the brewing material is intended to come within the scope of the present invention.

The scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 74 a is shown releasing brewing material 11 into the espresso cartridge retained in the tool base in FIG. 38 . The funnel 78 is fitted to the cartridge lock to guide the brewing material 11 into the cartridge 10 (see FIGS. 1-8 ) locked to the tool base 72.

The scoop/leveling/tam per/seating tool 7 4 a positioned to tamp the brewing material 11 in the espresso cartridge 10 retained in the tool base 72 in FIG. 39 . The scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 74 a includes a cylindrical tamper portion 98 slightly smaller than the cylindrical access mouth 94 (see FIG. 24 ) of the cartridge lock 80 to allow the cylindrical tamper portion 98 to enter the cartridge.

The scoop/leveling/tam per/seating tool 7 4 a is shown positioned to seat the bottom plug 14 in the espresso cartridge 10 retained by the cartridge lock 80 in the tool base 72 in FIG. 40 . The guide hole pin 52 engages the guide hole 21 of the bottom plug 14 and the cylindrical tamper portion 98 centers the bottom plug 14 for seating in the espresso cartridge 10.

A third scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 7 4 b having a pivoting level 108 is shown in FIG. 41A, and the third scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 74 b with the level 108 pivoted to level brewing material in the scoop 96 is shown in FIG. 41B. The pivoting level 108 includes a level arm 108 a pivotally attached to a scoop arm 100 at a pivot 108 b and a sickle 108 c at an end of the arm opposite to the pivot 108 b. The pivoting level 108 is generally flat and rests on a rim 96 a of the scoop 96 when not in use, and pivots horizontally to remove excess material from the scoop. Other than having a pivoting level versus a sliding level, the third scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 74 b is similar to the scoop/leveling/tamper/seating tool 74 a. While the level arm 108 a is shown tangentially attached to the sickle 108 c, the scoop arm 108 a may also attach to a near end 108 d of the sickle 108 c.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims. 

I claim:
 1. A scooping and leveling device, comprising: a handle; an elongated scoop arm attached at a first end to the handle; a scoop disposed at a second end of the scoop arm; and a leveling element; wherein the scoop has a concave interior and a substantially planar rim; wherein the leveling element includes: a leveling arm coupled to the scoop arm, and a leveling bar disposed at a first end of the leveling arm; wherein the leveling arm is coupled to the scoop arm such that the leveling element is movable between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position, the leveling element is disposed such that the leveling bar is arranged at a first side of the scoop; wherein in the second position, the leveling element is disposed such that the leveling bar is arranged at a second side of the scoop; and wherein the leveling arm is configured to be moved across the scoop arm, thereby causing the leveling bar to move across the rim of the scoop.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the leveling arm is configured to pivot on the scoop arm.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein leveling arm is coupled to the scoop arm such that the leveling arm is pivotable about a point on the scoop arm.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the leveling bar has substantially the same size and shape as at least a portion of the substantially planar rim of the scoop.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the substantially planar rim of the scoop is circular.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the leveling bar is a semi-circular arc.
 7. The device of claim 5, wherein the leveling bar is a portion of a circular arc.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the leveling arm includes a textured portion.
 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a tamper disposed at an end of the handle opposite the scoop arm.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the tamper faces a direction opposite that of the scoop arm.
 11. The device of claim 9, wherein the tamper is longitudinally aligned with the handle.
 12. The device of claim 9, further comprising a guide pin disposed on an end of the tamper opposite the handle.
 13. The device of claim 9, wherein the tamper has a circular cross-section transverse to the longitudinal direction of the scoop arm and a transverse cross-sectional area smaller than a transverse cross-sectional area of the handle.
 14. The device of claim 9, wherein the tamper is cylindrical.
 15. A scooping and leveling device, comprising: grasping means for grasping the device; scoop means for scooping granulated material; elongated means for attaching the scoop means to the grasping means; and leveling means for leveling the granulated material when the granulated material is in the scoop means; wherein the scoop means has a concave interior and a substantially planar rim; wherein the leveling means includes: push means for leveling the granulated material when the granulated material is in the scoop means, and extension means for coupling the push means to the elongated means; wherein the extension means is coupled to the elongated means such that the extension means is movable between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position, the extension means is disposed such that the push means is arranged at a first side of the scoop means; wherein in the second position, the extension means is disposed such that the push means is arranged at a second side of the scoop means; and wherein the extension means is configured to be moved across the elongated means, thereby causing the push means to move across the rim of the scoop means.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the extension means is configured to pivot on the elongated means.
 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the extension means is coupled to the elongated means such that the extension means is pivotable about a point on the elongated means.
 18. The device of claim 15, wherein the push means has substantially the same size and shape as at least a portion of the substantially planar rim of the scoop means.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the substantially planar rim of the scoop means is circular.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the push means is a semi-circular arc.
 21. The device of claim 19, wherein the push means is a portion of a circular arc.
 22. The device of claim 15, wherein the extension means includes a textured portion.
 23. The device of claim 15, further comprising tamping means for compacting the granulated material when the granulated material is disposed in a tamping container, disposed at an end of the grasping means opposite the elongated means.
 24. The device of claim 23, wherein the tamping means faces a direction opposite that of the elongated means.
 25. The device of claim 23, wherein the tamping means is longitudinally aligned with the grasping means.
 26. The device of claim 23, further comprising guide means for guiding the tamping means into the tamping container, disposed on an end of the tamping means opposite the grasping means.
 27. The device of claim 23, wherein the tamping means has a circular cross-section transverse to the longitudinal direction of the elongated means and a transverse cross-sectional area smaller than a transverse cross-sectional area of the grasping means.
 28. The device of claim 23, wherein the tamping means is cylindrical. 